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SALT LAKE CITY — Division of Wildlife Resources biologists said the 2015 fall hunt for chukar partridges should be the best it's been in Utah in 17 years.
During a recent helicopter survey over central Tooele County, wildlife biologists saw 101 chukars per square mile, making it only the third time in 20 years that chukar numbers have been over 100 chukars per square mile, according to DWR. The previous high for chukars populations was in 1998 with 117 chukars per square mile.
While Tooele, Juab and Millard counties have the highest concentration of birds in the state, chukar populations are above average across Utah, DWR reported.
"Peaks like this are rare," DWR upland game coordinator Jason Robinson said. "I encourage hunters to get into the field and take advantage of it. There's a chance the number of chukars in Utah will be much lower in 2016. This is definitely the year to get out and pursue them."
Robinson said the birds are doing exceptionally well this year because of the mild winter and because of the peak in the population cycle, which peaks every eight years. To find chukars, Robinson recommended focusing on steep, rocky slopes that have cheatgrass, bunchgrass or sagebrush. And because chukars are very vocal birds, early morning is the best time to hunt them.
"The birds feed mostly in the early morning," Robinson said. "If you listen closely, they'll often tip you off to their location."
When hunting chukars, it is also recommended to get on a slope above them and walk downhill because chukars typically run uphill to escape danger.
"You can't outrun them so don't try to chase the birds up the slope," Robinson said. "If you get above the birds, they'll usually stay where they are until you get close enough to shoot at them."
The chukar and gray partridge hunts begin Sept. 19-21 for hunters 17 years of age and younger. The general partridge hunt begins Sept. 26.
